An IDF Patriot Missile battery shot down a Syrian MIG21, allegedly because it violated Israeli airspace.

The timing of the Israeli move was somewhat uncanny – coming just after the US launched its unilateral attack on Islamic State targets in northeastern Syria.

Considering the sensitivity of the situation, you would expect that maybe Israel’s IDF leadership could figure out that with all it’s Damascus is facing this week – being attacked by the US, being over-run by Jihadist terror brigades, that Syria is not planning to go to war with Israel. Sadly, Israel could not figure that out, and decided to do its part in pushing the region just a little closer towards a wider war.

Last week, Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra fighters drove out hundreds of UN peacekeepers from the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, taking their uniforms and vehicles, and terrorist fighters “had succeeded in occupying all of the Syrian side” of the Golan Heights, forcing troops from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to retreat. It’s well known about Israel’s desire to retake the Golan Heights and the Civil War in Syria may provide them with the perfect cover they need to achieve this.

The only other explanation here is that this Syrian jet was shot down for a reason tied to the escalation involvement by US, and perhaps Israel, in further destablising and destroying the government in Syria, otherwise it makes no sense considering Syria and Israel have maintained peace over the Golan Heights for over 30 years. Through its lobbying and think tanks like the Henry Jackson Society in the UK, Israel also exposed its plan to use US intervention in Syria to eliminate the Syrian Air Force and all Syrian air defenses.

The double standard regarding Israel is breath-taking. Incredibly, Israel crowed, “The IDF will not tolerate a breach of the State of Israel’s sovereignty”, even though over the last 18 months Israel has launched at least 5 unprovoked airstrikes on targets inside Syria, giving only flimsy excuses about how it was “defending itself”, when in reality, it was destroying Syrian military targets on behalf of Washington DC and to aid Islamic extremist/terrorist fighters attempting to overthrown the Assad government in Syria.

Obviously, Israel is not the least bit concerned about arcane institutions like the UN or the ICC – it does what it wants, when it wants, and does not feel obligated to participate in international law, unless it has something gain.

Either way, this latest move by Israel threatens to inflame an already volatile situation…
An Israeli Patriot missile shot down a Syrian aircraft that flew into Israeli-controlled airspace on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing the military.

“Moments ago a Syrian aircraft infiltrated Israeli airspace. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) intercepted the aircraft in mid-flight, using the Patriot air defense system,” a military statement said. The type of plane was not disclosed.

Israeli media are claiming that the downed aircraft was a Soviet-built MiG-21fighter jet.
Syrian state TV has confirmed that country’s aircraft was downed by the Israeli Air Force.

Images have emerged reportedly showing two pilots ejecting from the shot plane.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Moscow was “deeply concerned” by the incident, which “exacerbates an already tense situation.”

“We are calling for all countries in the region and beyond to show maximum restraint,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that now it is crucial to not open a new “front” of confrontation, but to unite the efforts of all interested parties to combat that threat.

In August, when a drone from Syria intruded into Israeli airspace, the Israeli Air Force shot it down with a Patriot surface-to-air missile.

“The IDF will not tolerate a breach of the State of Israel’s sovereignty,” the army said.
The area of Quneitra has become a major battlefield of the Syrian conflict in recent weeks, where fighting between the Syrian Army and the Al-Nusra Front militants linked to al-Qaida is raging.

On Monday, the US-led coalition launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. The anti-ISIS coalition is using various military aircraft to pound the IS militants: F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, Rockwell B-1 strategic bombers, MQ-1 Predator drones and Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles.